This morning we’re coming to Luke 2:1-20 – if you would like to tap or turn there.  We’re going to be doing things a little different – we’re going to be singing during the sermon. 

Over the past several Sundays Pastor Jared has been leading us through a study of The Promised King – focusing on Who Jesus is and what His promised coming means for us.  Today we’re celebrating The Promised King Who Has… Come. 

This morning in order to help us pull some of that together and to get us started in drilling down into what His coming means for us and where we go from here – we have a short quiz. 

Which of the following is part of the Biblical record of Jesus’ birth?

A.            Mary riding on a donkey

B.            Frantically searching for lodging

C.           Jesus is born

D.           The Inn Keeper with no rooms

E.            3 wise men at the manger

F.            The cave (aka “the stable”)

G.           Jesus’ being born on December 24^th

H.           All of the above

I.              None of the above

J.             C is never the right answer

The answer is… C

Mary riding into town on a donkey with Joseph frantically looking for a place to stay - wise men showing up at a manger in a stable on December 24^th or December 25^th – all that is not in Scripture.  As Christians we have a lot of traditions – some of which may be pretty cool and fun – but they’re traditions that have grown up or been imported into our celebrations that are not in Scripture.

The bottom line is that King Jesus has… come.  Yes?

It can be way easy for us to be distracted from that bottom line truth.

Where we do life Memorial Day starts the Christmas shopping season.  The economic engine that’s Santa Claus and Christmas being celebrated without any mention of Christ.  Food, family, friends, feelings and festival.  But not Jesus – not the Christ.

In trying to navigate through ALL of that – not all of which is bad – let’s be careful, there’s some good in all that – but in trying to navigate through all of that we have the opportunity this morning to pause and press into King Jesus Who has come.  To focus on what we know to be true and the real time difference that truth makes in our lives as we navigate forward.

In Luke chapter 2 – starting at verse 1 – is the account of Jesus’ birth.  The decree from Caesar Augustus – during the days when Quirinius was governor of Syria.  The decree that sent Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem for registration.

Then – in verse 8 – which opens up more of where we want to focus this morning – verse 8 begins the account of the angels coming to the shepherds. 

The message of the angel – verse 10 – let’s read it together: “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.  And this will be a sign for you; you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”

This is the birth announcement of… Jesus – the Promised King Who’s come.  Focusing on the timing and location of Jesus’ birth fulfilling prophecy – the fulfillment of the promises that Pastor Jared has been leading us through these past Sundays.

Pointing to the child – Jesus the King – born not to royalty or wealth – but into humility – lying in a manger.

Then – verse 13 – the angel is joined by a multitude of the angelic armies of heaven praising God and saying – verse 14 – let’s read it together: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased.”

Let’s pause there.  There are 3 “P’s” here in verse 14 – not inspired “P’s” – but “P’s” – alliteration that can help us grab onto the huge significance in what the angels said – what’s important for us to keep focused on.  “P’s” to press into.

The first P is Praise.  Let’s repeat that together: “Praise.”  “Glory to God in the highest.”

Emphasis God.

An angel of the Lord appears before shepherds – surrounded by the glory of the Lord – a kazillion candles of pure heavenly light obliterating the darkness of the night – a glimpse into heaven – exposing the unimaginable awesome immeasurable greatest – the omnipotence and sovereignty and holiness of THE God our creator. 

The angel tells the shepherds “Fear not…”

Can’t imagine why they’d be afraid.

“Fear not.”  Why?  The news is good!  Not something to fear. 

In Bethlehem is born the long-awaited – promised by God – Savior.  Who is the Christ – the Messiah – the One anointed by God – to deliver His people. 

This Child is the Lord – the potentate of all creation – God Himself.  Born in the frail flesh and blood of our humanity – incarnate.  Born to die – in our place – for each of us who is in bondage to Satan and the power of sin – with no hope of saving ourselves.

Good news: Born in Bethlehem, God Himself has come to set us free.

That’s good news.  Amen?!!?

Then suddenly – an uncountable number of angels – the armies of heaven – are there praising God – saying: “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased.”   

It’s a statement of adoration – of worship – of praise – of testimony. 

God Himself is working His plan of redemption – of our salvation.  It is a singular God moment in time.  Emphasis God.

Maybe you experience this like me – the more we know about God and see what He does and how He does it – what God can do in us and through us and what He allows us to be a part of – the more we’re amazed.  Speechless before the awesomeness of God.  My brain sometimes just freezes trying to process all that. 

How is a baby born to a virgin?  How does God enter human flesh?  How is Jesus at one time both fully God and yet fully man?  Where is God going in all of this?  What does He have for me?  How are we supposed to process the mind and working of God?

God alone is worthy of worship – the God of heaven on high – the God most High – our Creator – only the God Who is worthy of worship is able and would do such a thing.  Glory to God in the highest.

SONG: “ANGELS WE HAVE HEARD ON HIGH”

The second P is Peace.  Let’s repeat that together, “Peace.”  “and on earth peace” – meaning God’s peace.

Today to go from Jerusalem to Bethlehem – a distance of only about 5 miles – means going through military checkpoints – barb wire – guns – watch towers.  Bethlehem – birthplace of Jesus the Prince of Peace – is a flash point of conflict between Jews and Palestinians.

Humankind – we – look at our situation (at that) and conclude that the answer is for us to work harder at trying to be good – to be good for goodness sake. 

Thousands of years of human history and you’d think we’d have gotten somewhere.

Deeper than politics – closer to home – more personal – is peace within.  Yes? 

The circumstances of our lives and families – the economy – the world we live in – is constantly working to rob us of peace.  We constantly struggle to feel safe, less anxious, adequate, more in control of our lives, trying to keep up.

Christmas just puts all that into overdrive – physically – emotionally.

Anyone with me on that?

At Living Nativity, I served with some solid guys – Amilcar and team – helping to park cars.  I learned, you can tell a lot about how someone is navigating Christmas by how they navigate a parking lot. 

While we’re all supposed to be feeling joyful – instead it is easy to feel empty and lonely and frustrated and depressed and stressed.  

Maybe you’re like me – about this time of year after weeks of just trying to keep up I’m looking for the finish line.  And as it’s been said, in life, they’re always moving the finish line farther away.  Yes?

That word “peace” is crucial for our lives.  Crucial because we long for peace.  Crucial because – on our own – it’s impossible for us to really know peace.  A deep settled contentment within.  Peace with others.  The beginning point of which is Peace with God.

Remember Adam?  The Garden?  God’s one restriction?

“Adam, don’t eat the - what?  fruit.” 

Stay away from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.  But, Adam… eyes wide open disobeyed God.  Result is we’re all dealing sin.

Anyone ever take a class called Beginning Sin 101?

Along the way there might have been experiences or people that have helped us develop and refine our ability to sin – to get better at it.  But, if we’re honest no one teaches us how to sin.  We’re born into sin.    

The account of Adam and Eve holds us because every day we relive it in our lives – the failure – the casting out – the longing to return to peace of paradise.  We despair because there’s nothing we can do to return.

We are so together on this.  Yes?

We’re enemies of God.  We deserve death.  There is no peace in that.

But God gives to us what we do not deserve.  Amen?  What we could never earn – His love – His grace – His Son Jesus – born in Bethlehem.  Who carried our sins on Himself – on the cross – is put to death in our place – paying our penalty for our sins – taking our death sentence upon Himself – to offer to us forgiveness – a restored relationship with God – life – peace with God now and forever.

Paul writes in Romans 5:1: “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

That is good news of great joy.

When we individually accept God’s gracious offer of salvation – by faith – turning from our sin and trusting God with our lives – God applies His salvation to us.  In the midst of what swirls around us we can know God’s peace – peace in our hearts.  Peace with God.

SONG: “LORD, I NEED YOU”

Third P stands for Pleased.  Let’s repeat that together.  “Pleased.”  “among those with whom He is pleased.”

The setting is this field at night. 

Have you ever been in a place like that – at night in the fields?  The lights of Bethlehem are off a ways.  Jerusalem is five miles away.  It’s dark except for the brilliance of stars.  Maybe a cool breeze stirs the grass.

Shepherds out in the field – late at night – doing what they’d done the night before that and the night before that.  Doing what for generations was what their family did.  Doing what they’ll be doing tomorrow and the day after tomorrow.  Shepherds – surrounded by the stench of sheep (and each other) – sitting around a fire – telling sheep jokes.

“What do you call a sheep with no legs?”  “A cloud.”

“How do you clean a sheep?”  “You give it a baaath.”

And of course, you use… Woolite.

“That’s really baaaad.”

It’s hard to imagine anything more routine – shepherding sheep.  Maybe doing laundry.  While shepherds washed their socks by night. 

Shepherds were on the low end of the social register of the day.  They were despised by the orthodox Jews – because they couldn’t keep the requirements of the ceremonial laws – the feasts – the washing of hands – and so on.  They couldn’t do both – shepherd and keep the ceremonial laws.  

Which is ironic. 

Because every morning and evening an unblemished lamb was sacrificed at the Temple as an offering to the Lord.  Some of the sheep in that very pasture were probably being raised for those sacrifices.  But these shepherds couldn’t be a part of all that.  They really were the, “Lord, I Need You”, lost sheep of Israel.

And yet, when God Himself reaches into humanity – His announcement isn’t made in the courts of Caesar – at the heart of the Roman Empire.  God’s birth announcement is made in an obscure corner of the empire – out in a field – to… shepherds – despised – unworthy.

Given a sign – babies in swaddling cloths happened pretty regular.  But in a baby in a manger – the furniture of shepherds and sheep – that was a unique sign for shepherds.

So, question: Why should God be pleased with these Shepherds? 

But that’s what it says in verse 14.  Doesn’t it?  “Among those with whom He is pleased.” 

Pleased – the Greek word – “pleased” means satisfied – delighted in – taking pleasure in.  Why should God be pleased with these despised shepherds?

Question: Why should God be pleased with us?  Us?  Common ordinary sinful people hanging out here in the greater La Habra metroplex?

Regardless of what we think of ourselves or what others think of us or what we think others think of us God is pleased with us.

That’s astounding.  Isn’t it?  That God – not because of any great spiritual achievement on our part – and in spite of our best efforts – God chooses to be pleased with us – to be delighted in us.  God – by His grace – is born in the flesh – to die – for us that we might have peace with Him.

We need to let that rattle around in our minds and sink into our hearts.  God is pleased with us – with you.  Say that to yourself.  “God is pleased with me.”  Share that with someone near you.  “God is pleased with you.”

SONG: “GOD REST YE MERRY, GENTLEMEN”

“P” number 4 is Priority.  Let’s repeat that together.  “Priority.”  What comes next. 

If we open up with each other most of what we’ve been talking about this morning is not new information.  Right?  It’s all pretty familiar.

The question is: What difference does all that make as we move forward?  What does all this look like for us on December 26^th? 

Back to Luke 2 – down at verse 15 – let’s read together: When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”  And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger.    

Pause there.

The Shepherds went with… “haste”.  The original word in Greek is “speudo” which is kind of like “speedy”.  It has the idea of accelerating towards where we’re going – an urgent eager desire to get there. 

When the angels leave, the shepherds are no longer focused on sheep – now priority one is responding to what they’d just been overwhelmed with.  What comes next for them is a response that is life changing for them and for everyone else they ran into.

Processing that for ourselves – with what we know – what does that “what comes next” haste – priority looks like for us…

Priority – part one – is our response to the message – the good news of great joy. 

The shepherds heard the news.  They believed the news.  They committed themselves – their lives – to the truth of that good news.

God is pleased with us.  Not our sin.  But pleased to deal with our sin – to offer His salvation to us.  Which is good news of great joy… even for us. 

We need to individually respond by – not just by hearing – but accepting His offer of salvation – to turn from our sin – and to trust Him with our lives.  That is the priority number one – the place to begin – the life changing response to God.

Let me encourage you that if you have any questions about what that means or what that might look like for you, please come and talk with me or someone from Green Hills – maybe someone you came with this morning – and ask.  We’re here and we’d like to hear where you’re at this morning and to help you as you respond to God. 

Let’s go on – read with me at verse 17: And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child.  And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them.  But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.   

Priority – part two – is to tell others. 

Which is what the shepherds did – with haste not hesitation.  They were not sheepish about it. 

Without someone sharing the good news with us not many of us would be here.  We need to be doing that for others around us who need to know that Jesus has come for them.

Going on – read with me verse 20: And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

Priority part three is how we live.

The shepherds went back to their fields – to their sheep – back to the day-to-day routine of where they’d been living as outcasts.  But they returned glorifying and praising God for all they’d seen and heard – what was the real time – we saw it for ourselves – confirming reality of what the angel had said… to them.

That reality was the priority in how they approached the day-to-day of life navigating forward.  Everything else was secondary.

Whenever Christmas – December 25^th – comes on a Sunday the question always gets asked, “Should we have a service on Sunday?”  Not just here at Green Hills.  But at churches all over the place the question gets asked.

Which is totally understandable.  Knowing the insane busyness of our family gatherings and celebrations and opening presents and so on and so on.  Someplace in all that we’re supposed to make a choice of whether to come to a church service or not.

And let’s careful.

Let’s not be spiritually arrogant because we chose to be here.  None of us would be anywhere if it wasn’t for God’s grace and His saving us. Right?

The point is that we have a choice.  And not just in how we celebrate Christmas – but (hear this) a choice in how we live because The Promised King Has Come..

Knowing what we know – familiar as it is – that reality should inform and order the day-to-day choices we make in how we do life.  Watching sheep or whatever the equivalent of that is in our lives.

What we watch and listen to – the games we play – and who, and how we connect with people, and why – what we give our time and effort to – what we spend our resources on – how we speak, the words we use, and what we speak about.  And our giving priority to worship – to praise – to following and serving Jesus – to gathering with His people – to living out what it means to be blessed by God.

In whatever opportunity or circumstance we’re going through we can be asking God to show us what’s really true of our lives – what’s real – where our hearts are really at and how He desires to navigate us forward.  Probably that means being honest with ourselves about where we’re really at.  Maybe that means getting input from others.

Are we living what’s moving us closer to God or farther from Him.  Are we living out God’s purpose for our lives or our purpose for our lives?

Just speaking personally – but maybe you’ve found this for yourself as well – as I’m navigating forward through all that – that daily tsunami of information and experience and opportunity – if I didn’t have King Jesus to hold onto and know that He’s holding on to me – knowing the life I’ve been given because Jesus has come, and died, and lives for me - I’d be hopelessly confused and controlled by fear.

But, the Promised King has come!

Each of us has such a huge God given opportunity – a purpose for our lives and place to live out that purpose – every day of our lives – wherever God has called us to do life – to be led by God – to be used by God – to live out the gospel – God’s Good News of great joy – for His glory – for as long as God gives us here on earth.

SONGS: “GO TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN & “JOY TO THE WORLD”

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Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.